Shakira rests hips to study at UCLA

Los Angeles: Shakira may get high grades in singing and swiveling her hips, but what about ancient Western history? For the past month, the Colombian pop star has attended a class at the University of California, Los Angeles, called "Introduction to Western Civilization: Ancient

Civilizations from Prehistory to Circa A.D. 843."

"She went when she finished her tour, for the summer," Shakira's manager Fifi Kurzman told The Associated Press.

For years the 30-year-old has studied on her own, also taking tutorials on the history and languages of the countries she visits, Kurzman said.

The singer, known for last year's "Hips Don't Lie" and other hits, released her first album at age 14 and later took time off to finish high school.

She decided to take a musical rest this summer following her worldwide "Oral Fixation" tour to focus on social causes, Kurzman said